Description:
At a time when experimentation is taboo in most overground rap, thatís all Outkast seem intent on executing. Firstly, this double CD has no cohesive link, other than the fact that it sounds like a pair of solo albums stitched together to demo exactly how Andreís yin works to augment Big Boiís yang. Andre 3000ís Love Below disc rates as the more eclectic of the two, given that heís turned in his emcee credentials to become a full-on funk-soul-jazz vocalist who mostly sings about items of love ("Happy Valentine's Day"), carnal lust ("Spread"), and female adoration ("Prototype"). Minus the big band schmaltz of "Love Hater" and cheesy cover jobs ("My Favorite Things"), Andreís disc is sick (meaning great). As is to be expected, the Big Boi disc is less arty, more gangsta and worldly, and features the less-progressive guest raps of ATL crunk purveyors Lilí Jon and The Eastside Boyz ("Last Call") and Jay-Z who rhymes the hook on "Flip Flop Rock". Unlike Big Boi, Andre keeps his collabos to a minimum, once crooning alongside Norah Jones on the cool yet sappy "Take Off Your Cool", and once with Kelis. Boi fulfills his Dungeon Family duty with flying colors by flipping some dirty southern up-tempo raps over electro beats on "GhettoMusick". By the time Cee-Lo sermonizes on "Reset", Speakerboxx and Love Below rate mostly as majestic and inspiring, with the remaining 23 per cent being just plain incredible --Dalton Higgins

Removal from the Norm : Old Styles, New Twist : 2 completely different styles : 40 songs for $18.00

Cons:

without a CD changer you have downtime between CD's : Artistic songs need a glass of wine and a ez-chair to appreciate

Outkast has done it again! A great CD that bucks the norms set up by the hip-hop industry. This 2 disc set plays out like 2 seperate solo albums.

CD 1: Speakerboxxx
Best Time to Listen: Driving to the water on an empty road. Cruising through slow water
"Speakerboxxx" explodes with Big Boi's message filled hip hop tracks. Tracks like "church" and "war" have catchy hooks and lyrics that still make you think all with the beat to back it up.

CD 2: The Love Below
Best Time to Listen: Sunset, on the dock with your favorite drink and a good cigar.
Andre 3000's "The Love Below" slows it down and injects you with a taste of soul that the industry has been missing for a long time. Almost every track makes me me fell like I've been transported into a smokey jazz club and 'Dre is sitting up on stage wailing out these tunes.